1988 Ford Thunderbird
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Ford › Thunderbird › 1988
These records cover every 1988 Ford Thunderbird. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
2 recalls name the 1988 Ford Thunderbird. Newest first.
The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
Risk and remedy
Risk
This condition could cause overheating, smoke, and possibly fire in the steering column area of the vehicle.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the ignition switch.
A design change to facilitate changeover in rear axle shaft flanges inadvertently produced the possibility for interference between the flange and disc brake rotor.
Risk and remedy
Risk
The interference could prevent proper seating of therotor. also an improperly seated rotor could in time result in a reduction inthe clamping forces of the wheel studs, possibly leading to fractured studsand rear wheel separation.
Remedy
Inspection of vehicles and where necessary replace rear axle shafts and rear brake rotors.
Owner complaints
92 complaints5 involved a crash16 involved a fire7 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Tires › Valve
TL* the contact owns a 1988 ford thunderbird equipped with goodyear assurance fuel max tires, size: p225/60r16. While driving various speeds, the tires made an abnormal rumbling noise. The contact noticed that the front driver's side and both passenger side tires were getting flat. The vehicle was…
TL* the contact owns a 1988 ford thunderbird equipped with goodyear assurance fuel max tires, size: p225/60r16. While driving various speeds, the tires made an abnormal rumbling noise. The contact noticed that the front driver's side and both passenger side tires were getting flat. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact believed that the valve stems were the reason for the tire failure. The tires were replaced. The tires were replacement tires. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The dot number was unknown. The approximate vehicle failure mileage was 290,000 and the tire failure mileage was 20,000. *tr
- Vehicle speed control › Cruise control
Dt: this vehicle caught on fire while driving. Contacted ford, and they did not offer any assistance. It caught fire on october 1, 2000. There was no forewarning. The fire started under the hood. Had mechanic look at vehicle to repair it, and they said it was to far gone.*ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
When the key was turned in the ignition steering column started smoking. This was due to the defect described in the ignition recall 96v071000. However, this vehicle was not included in the recall due to vin. *ak
- Equipment › Electrical · Service brakes, hydraulic · Unknown or other
No repairs yet...haha..just weak brakes,bad paint and wierd speed control...look to the cruise control..to much electrionics in this car man!
- Vehicle speed control
The vehicle lurched foward, when the brakes were depressed. *Jb
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch · Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
Ignition switch was recalled in 1999. Car was returned to ted britt ford for compliance.invoice states pn f29z-11572d installed.ignition switch failed 8/17/02 engine running fine but ABS inop-loss of brake power boost not just anti lock.defective switch found to be pn f29a11572da not f29z11572d as…
Ignition switch was recalled in 1999. Car was returned to ted britt ford for compliance.invoice states pn f29z-11572d installed.ignition switch failed 8/17/02 engine running fine but ABS inop-loss of brake power boost not just anti lock.defective switch found to be pn f29a11572da not f29z11572d as stated on recall invoice.per jerry's ford parts dept these part numbers interchange.the removed part showed signs of melting and charring.*ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Car off. Fire under hood due to electrical short-per fire dept.
- Electrical system › Wiring
Vehicle caught on fire while parked.contacted dealer. Reason unknown.*ak
- Visibility › Rearview mirrors/devices › Interior · Visibility › Windshield
With the mirror glued to the windshield, an object hit the roofline of the car, causing the windshield to shatter, and at 65mph, the windshield colapsed with the mirror attached, hitting me in the the face, and the mirror edge hit me in the rt side of my head, breaking my skull, causing bone…
With the mirror glued to the windshield, an object hit the roofline of the car, causing the windshield to shatter, and at 65mph, the windshield colapsed with the mirror attached, hitting me in the the face, and the mirror edge hit me in the rt side of my head, breaking my skull, causing bone frgments in my brain, and damage . un related insident in my 92 caravan, a big bird hit my passengerside windshield, and the rearview mirror launched to the back. both could be prevented with a teathering strap to the roof, keeping mirror in the general mounted area, as now all mine are so attached. I also know of another where the mirror flew off in a rear end collision, hitting the driver's head. The mirrors always fall off in this texas heat, in a static position.
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Driver's side seat belt buckle failed. I also owned a 1987 t-bird prior to this one that had the same problem. seems to be a recurring problem with the older t-birds.*ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Ignition switch IS causing vehicle to stall out in middle of traffic when driving at various speeds.*ak
- Electrical system › Ignition
Consumer was driving and pulling into a parking lot and there was a burn/ electrical smell, but no smoke. Consumer turned to start vehicle back up, and nothing would happen. A mechanic found that ignition switch burned out from overheating. recall 96v071000/ manufacturer's recall 95s28 was serviced in january 1997. *Ak
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
The female portion of the seat belt buckle on the driver's side IS broken.
- Exterior lighting › Headlights
Plastic covering on headlights have faded to yellow making visibility difficult. owner has to buy whole lighting unit to fix problem.*ak the consumer says it IS not reasonable to buy the entire unit to replace an inferior quality covering for the head light. *yh
- Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator · Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Alternator overheated, and has been replaced four times due to an electrical shortage within ignition switch. *Ak two dealers had differing openion about the problem. the consumer believes something within the vehicle's design excites the electrical changing system. *yh
- Electrical system › Ignition · Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash · Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system › Injectors · Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly · Steering › Linkages › Tie rod assembly · Steering › Rack and pinion
Bought car frm old lady who rarely drove it. After bought noticed frnt end clunk all speeds replaced struts clunk stillthere replaced strut bearings and all bushings in front end. clunking still there rear end clunking bad when put into gear and when car shifts replaced rear shocks....still…
Bought car frm old lady who rarely drove it. After bought noticed frnt end clunk all speeds replaced struts clunk stillthere replaced strut bearings and all bushings in front end. clunking still there rear end clunking bad when put into gear and when car shifts replaced rear shocks....still there ....at front also ...was told by santa maria ford the front clunk IS from the rear somewhere?...i finally found it in steering rack the rod ends were dry (no lube from factory) the ball sockets in them were just short of a wreck wear wise ....replaced them and behold no clunk from front....rear still clunks to this day.recall for ing switch after this was replaced the enging surges and sometimes stalls at speed and idle the dealer (jim burke in bakersfield) says its my problem and they could check it out for $$$$$ I had payed them for diagnoses and they said it needed injector cleaned @495.00for #4 inj. well I installed new one for $40.00 and price of gaskets car passed smog but still surges at all speeds..........the seat belt buckle stopped latching about the time of ingnition recall ford said tuff luck go to a junkyard
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
In collision seat belt failed; driver hit winshield and steering wheel. *ak
- Unknown or other
No summary
- Unknown or other
No summary
- Unknown or other
No summary
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Belt buckle doesn't lock anymore. buckle has been replaced twice. Consumer will contact the dealer.*ak
- Exterior lighting › Headlights · Seats › Front assembly › Recliner
When the lever IS used to recline the driver's seatback, it cannot be repositioned. Also, headlights would fog up & have very little projection, even with high beams on. Taking vehicle to dealer to check. *ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers · Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · Structure › Body › Door
Headlights and fog lights go out intermittently: immediately, or up to 20-30 minutes after turning them on, has almost caused several accidents.. Have replaced 3 turn signal/bright light switches, due to them overheating and melting. When headlights go out, interior fills with burning plastic…
Headlights and fog lights go out intermittently: immediately, or up to 20-30 minutes after turning them on, has almost caused several accidents.. Have replaced 3 turn signal/bright light switches, due to them overheating and melting. When headlights go out, interior fills with burning plastic smell, but no fire. almost every power accessory inside car doesn't work, or only works sometimes. driver's power seat sometimes shorts out and has a burning smell: no fire detected. at times, interior of car fills with burning plastic smell so strong that you have to exit the car: have not been able to find the source of overheating/smoldering, no fires. ABS brakes fail when stopping suddenly. brakes lock and car skids, steering very difficult when brakes lock. *Ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/supercharger
Turbocharger gone bad
- Exterior lighting › Headlights
Headlight cover IS plastic which has turned a yellowish color, and has caused headlights to become dim. *ak
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Faulty seat belt buckles
There is no summary currently available
- Faulty seatbelt buckles
There is no summary currently available
- Throttle sticking
There is no summary currently available
- Power seat malfunc/fire
There is no summary currently available
- Throttle sticking
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- Pwr seat malfunc - fire
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- Floormat/accel pedal intrf
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Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 6090087Information on identifying non-approved / alternate refrigerants which could cause safety, and performance concerns if installed in ford a/c systems.
- 6089681Subject on a wire harness terminal repair kit available for repairing electrical wiring harnesses.
- 3010700Unknown
- 623988Information regarding transmission fluid usage charts. *Slc
- 623944Some vehicles may exhibit heater core leaks. *Slc
- 616522Subject regarding contamination from prior transmission concerns or excess wear may be trapped in the transmission fluid cooling system.
- 612203Information regarding the new transmission cooler flusher- service tip. *Mjs
- 608431Information on the new flush and fill tool available through rotunda.
- 605573Subject regarding a new service center support that uses a thrust bearing (#3 and #4) in place of thrust washers has been released.
- 601343A new silicone gasket and sealant.
- 601312Information on a buzzing or rattle noise from the exhaust system.
- 601290Information on tire company telephone numbers for customer assistance.
- 601269Announcing the ford oem air conditioning retrofit kit availability.
- 601238Information on a new transmission fluid usage chart.
- 601012The use of petroleum-based grease as a lubricant in servicing disc brakes IS no longer acceptable.
- 51945Fluid- transmission fluid usage charts.
- 50997Transaxle - torque converter replacement guidelines and torque converter/transaxle cooling system cleaning procedures - service tip.
- 50940Windshield and interior glass - fog/film.
- 50908Torque converter - leak test procedure - service tip.
- 50905Wiring - electrical diode identification and service replacements.
- 46478The use of petroleum-based grease as a lubricant in servicing disc brakes IS no longer acceptable because it may be incompatible with the rubber material used in the disc brake system. If petroleum-based grease IS used to lubricate any part of the disc brake system, it could cause rubber parts to swell if lubricant contacts the rubber material.
- 41025A revised service windshield wiper motor IS now available.
- 39900Roughness concern during brake application.
- 39222New torque-to-yield cylinder head bolt kit.
Every Ford Thunderbird model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.